ABC6 and NBC4: Emergency Rooms Are Not for COVID-19 Testing or Advice

If you start to experience symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus) the emergency department or urgent care is not the place to go to get tested. Testing kits are not available at these locations. And, by walking into those spaces, you could potentially be infecting other patients, physicians, nurses and staff.

If you are a patient who suspects you may have COVID-19, please call your primary care physicians’ office. You can also call Ohio's 24-hour coronavirus hotline at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

Please refrain from calling emergency departments about COVID-19 testing.

"The emergency rooms are being overwhelmed with phone calls regarding coronavirus testing, and general coronavirus questions," Joe Gastaldo, MD, OhioHealth system medical director of infectious diseases, told ABC6 reporter Geoff Redick on March 14., "We want a doctor, a nurse, or a nursing aide to provide patient care and not answer the phones."

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